Music, Food, Creative Arts and Headspace

Mike’s Journey

Mike’s work has taken him everywhere and anywhere working with so many fantastic people. Please keep scrolling to see his work over the years, new releases and everything in between…

1977

1977 began professional career with Maura O Connell in a duo called TUMBLEWEED.

1980

Became Stockton’s Wing guitarist, singer and songwriter

Wrote all songs on Stockton’s Wing’s ground-breaking and critically acclaimed Album Light in the Western Sky (1984) including hit Beautiful Affair and Walk Away.

Played at both Michale Jackson gigs in Cork, 1988

1989

Sammy Davis Junior invites the band to perform at his Lansdowne Road shows in Dublin

1990

Stockton’s Wing went on location to take part in the Noel Pearson/Jim Sheridan film production of the John B. Keane play The Field which featured Oscar nominee Richard Harris and John Hurt.

1994

Left Stocktons Wing to tour with Finbar Furey and pursue a solo career.

Signed to German label Wundertutte to release his first album “ Someone Like You”

1997

Favourite 10 years of his music life collaborating and performing with Ronnie Drew ( The Dubliners) on his theatre shows Ronnie I hardly knew Ya and An Evening with Ronnie Drew and Mike Hanrahan
Several runs in Dublin, Off Broadway, London and countless tours across Europe and North America.

Produced four albums for Ronnie including two with Ronnie and Eleanor Shanley which gave us the iconic duet A Couple More Years

Musical director for the critically acclaimed theatre shows Legends of Irish Music featuring Ronnie along with Liam Clancy, Finbar Furey, Johnny McAvoy, Jim McCann, and Paddy Reilly.

2000

Elected Chairman of the Board at IMRO ( The Irish Music Rights Organisation) having played a pivotal role in its set up back in 1994.

2002

Second solo album What you Know

2003

Mike elected for a second term at IMRO

2006

Mike enters the Food Industry

2017

Returned to the music and wrote a Memoir, Beautiful Affair –
A Journey in Music, Food and Friendship (2019)

2023

Study break – Post Grad and Fellowship on Equity in Brain Health at Trinity College Dublin with Global Brain Health Institute.

Now an Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health.

2024

Creating new pathways to enhance our understanding of Dementia with a particular focus on the importance of the Creative Arts in Dementia Care and Wellbeing.

Writing a book of short stories on the subject.

Back on the road with Stocktons Wing, Eleanor Shanley and Pat Shortt.

A Life with Food

2006 / 2016 I took a career change to study and later teach at The Ballymaloe Cookery School.

I worked in many kitchens and created two memorable ones at Pat Shortts Bar (yes that one!) in Castlemartyr in East Cork, and The Artisan Parlour in Ringsend Dublin.

I’ve cooked lots of interesting food in different places and worked with so many incredible people. We received some rave reviews and a few awards, but the best accolades we received were from our local producers and customers.

The Book

In 2019 Harper Collins published my memoir Beautiful Affair – A Journey in Music, Food and Friendship

This reached the Top 10 Best Sellars list, as well as being shortlisted in the top four with ‘An Post Best Irish Published Book 2019’

Buy a Copy Here

“If you love food and music, this book is compulsory for Christmas. My favourite cookbook’ .”

Paul Flynn, TV/Chef WriterHead Chef, The Tannery, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford

Stocktons Wing

The Wing toured extensively throughout the world collaborating with a variety of artists developing a unique soundscape drawing from a well of traditional and contemporary influences. This inimitable exciting sound encouraged many younger generations to explore their own creativity and performance beyond the boundaries of their culture. The Wing line up is, and always has been a transient collection of musicians, the coming together of talented musicians from all genres of music to perform and promote the music and songs of Stocktons Wing.

Recent Releases

The Ballad of the Crimson Warrior (2023)

A film inspired by the Irish Cultural Revolution. Premiered at Templebar Tradfest, MKE Milwaukee Fest and Phoenix Arizona (2022). Filmed and recorded with Aldoc, with help from Seana Davey on harp, Sive on vocals and guitar, and Norah Constance Walsh on piano and strings. Dedicated to the women and men of the Irish Cultural Revolution

A River Rolls On (2021)

Released in May 2021 featuring Dementia Inclusive choir The Forgetmenots and my friends Nora Constance Walsh, Lisa Lambe, Sandy Kelly, & Aldoc.

Inspired by a personal story of Dementia

Keep Listening to more of Mike’s Music

Please discover more of Mike’s music over on Bandcamp

Listen Here

Upcoming Gigs…

With Stocktons Wing

July 19^th Revival Festival Listowel with Boomtown Rats

July 25^th Forest Fest

Sept 20^th Bere Island Arts Festival

Oct 15^th Boyle Creative Arts in Wellbeing

With Eleanor Shanley

May 2^nd O Riadas Ballimagellliot

May 3^rd Project Arts Dublin Bealtaine with Eleanor, Justine Nantale, Liz Gillis and Segun.

June 15^th Moycairn Ballinasloe

Aug 29^th Moycairn Ballinasloe

Oct 10^th Friarsgate Theatre Kilmallock

Mike Hanrahan Solo Gigs

May 5^th Bealtaine voices Ennis Court House

May 7^th8th Engaging Dementia national Conference

May 9^th Older persons conference Maldron Tallaght

May 16^th Creative brainwaves Lexicon Dun Laoghaire

May 21^st Clare age Friendly annual awards

May 23^rd

May 29^th Listowel writers week with Niall Williams

Aug 9^th Wexford Ceili house with Kieran Hanrahan

Aug 23^rd Preston House Laoise with Ben McCaoilte

Sept 19^th Bere Island Arts Festival Creative Arts in Wellbeing

Sept 29^th Miami 50^th remembrance gig Vicar Street

Nov 1^st Creative Brainwaves Lexicon Dun Laoghaire